At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the development of a global Product Management academy to enhance performance and adaptability.
- Company: Join Mastercard, a leader in innovation and technology.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, dynamic work environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Be part of a transformative journey in a fast-paced, collaborative culture.
- Why this job: Shape the future of Product Management with AI and innovative learning solutions.
- Qualifications: Experience in programme management and capability building in a global setting.
The predicted salary is between 100000 - 150000 £ per year.
This is a rare opportunity to build a capability platform that will shape Product performance across Mastercard globally. The person in this role will help Product Managers make better decisions, move faster from idea to value, and adapt to a future in which AI is transforming both the products we build and the way Product work is done.
Role Responsibilities
- Shape Mastercard’s global foundational Product Management academy, ensuring it reflects the core skills, behaviours, and ways of working needed for strong Product performance.
- Translate priority capability needs into a clear, practical roadmap aligned to product quality, velocity, and commercial outcomes.
- Ensure learning is scalable, relevant, and increasingly delivered in the flow of work, using AI-enabled approaches to strengthen application and learning transfer.
- Continuously innovate the academy model so it remains effective in a fast-changing Product environment.
- Build trusted relationships with Product leaders, People & Capability partners, and other key stakeholders to shape priorities and maintain alignment.
- Influence across a global, matrixed environment, bringing stakeholders together to drive decisions, delivery, and adoption.
- Act as a connector across teams, ensuring the academy remains coherent, high quality, and responsive to business need.
- Lead end-to-end programme management across a complex portfolio, from planning and governance through to delivery, risk management, and continuous improvement.
- Bring exceptional organisation and execution discipline, managing milestones, dependencies, budgets, and stakeholder commitments with rigour.
- Scale solutions efficiently, balancing quality, speed, and value for money to deliver strong business impact.
- Manage external suppliers and partners to ensure strong quality, performance, and learner experience.
- Bring commercial rigour to partner management, budget oversight, and delivery planning, securing scale, efficiency, and value for money.
- Maintain clear oversight of timelines, deliverables, and contractual expectations.
- Create compelling positioning, communications, and activation plans that make the academy visible, valued, and adopted at scale.
- Articulate the case for change, including why foundational capability and AI-enabled ways of working matter now.
- Use insight, data, and feedback to continuously improve engagement, learning transfer, and impact.
All About You
- A highly organised, strategic programme leader who can translate ambitious capability goals into practical, high-impact solutions.
- Strong experience in programme management, capability building, learning, talent, or related fields, ideally in a global, matrixed organisation.
- Commercially minded, with confidence managing budgets, suppliers, and trade-offs to achieve scale and value for money.
- A credible influencer who builds trusted relationships quickly and works effectively with senior stakeholders and cross-functional partners.
- Strong communication, marketing, and change activation skills, with the ability to create momentum and adoption.
- Knowledge of Product Management, Product organisations, or capability building in technical or commercial environments is highly desirable.
- Curious, adaptable, and energised by innovation, with an interest in how AI can improve Product work and learning effectiveness.
Core Skills
- Programme Leadership
- Stakeholder Influence
- Supplier & Budget Management
- Marketing, Communications & Adoption
- Commercial & Capability Orientation
- Innovative Learning Delivery
- AI‑Aware Product Capability
What Success Looks Like
- A credible, scalable foundational Product Management academy is in place across Mastercard globally.
- Stakeholders are aligned and confident in the quality, relevance, and business value of the capability strategy.
- Learning solutions are delivered efficiently, with strong budget discipline, value for money, and visible adoption at scale.
- Product Managers are better equipped to perform, adapt to AI‑enabled ways of working, and contribute to stronger product outcomes.
Director, Foundational Product Management Capability Development in London employer: Mastercard
Mastercard is an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration, making it an ideal place for professionals looking to make a significant impact in the field of Product Management. With a strong focus on employee growth, Mastercard offers unique opportunities to shape global capabilities while leveraging cutting-edge AI technologies, ensuring that team members are equipped to thrive in a rapidly evolving landscape. The supportive work environment encourages continuous learning and development, allowing employees to build trusted relationships across a diverse, matrixed organisation.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director, Foundational Product Management Capability Development in London
✨Join Product Management Meetups
Get involved in local product management meetups or workshops. These events are perfect for meeting industry folks, sharing ideas, and staying updated on trends. Plus, you never know who might be hiring—it's a fantastic way to make connections that could lead to a job at places like Mastercard!
✨Show Off Your Product Sense
Create case studies or mini-projects showcasing your product management skills, and share them on platforms like Medium or LinkedIn. This not only puts your skills on display but also boosts your visibility in the product community. Imagine how impressed the hiring team at Mastercard would be by your initiative!
✨Utilise Online Communities
Dive into online product management communities like Product Coalition or Mind the Product. Engage in discussions, ask questions, and share your insights. These platforms are goldmines for networking and finding hidden job opportunities—many companies often scout talent from within these circles.
✨Leverage Your University Network
If you’ve recently graduated or are still in uni, tap into your alumni network for connections in product management. Many universities have their own job boards and affinity resources to help graduates land roles. Don't forget to keep an eye out for job openings at Mastercard through your school's career services!
We think you need these skills to ace Director, Foundational Product Management Capability Development in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Product Passion:When applying for a product management role like Director, Foundational Product Management Capability Development, let your passion for developing products shine through in your cover letter. Share specific examples of products you've managed, how you solved user needs, and any successful outcomes you've achieved. This is your chance to showcase your understanding of the product lifecycle!
Highlight Your Cross-Functional Skills:Product management isn't just about understanding the product; it’s about collaborating with different teams! Make sure to emphasise your experience working with developers, designers, and marketers. Use your CV to showcase your ability to bridge gaps between these areas, and include relevant experiences that demonstrate your communication and leadership skills!
Include Your Metrics and Achievements:In a full-time product management application, data speaks volumes! Quantify your achievements wherever possible. Did you increase user retention by a certain percentage? Launch a product ahead of schedule? Include these metrics in your CV to paint a picture of your impact and effectiveness in previous roles.
Tailor Your CV to the Role:Make sure your CV is tailored for the Director, Foundational Product Management Capability Development position at Mastercard. Use keywords from the job description and ensure your relevant experiences are front and centre. Highlight any certifications or relevant training you’ve completed that will make you stand out as a strong candidate for the role. And remember, we’re excited to see your application on our website!
How to prepare for a job interview at Mastercard
✨Understand the Product Life Cycle
As a product management candidate, we need to get our head around the complete product life cycle. Be prepared to discuss real-world examples of how you’ve managed product development from ideation to launch. Bring specific insights on tools like JIRA or Trello that can help streamline these processes.
✨Showcase Your Cross-Functional Skills
Product management is all about collaboration. We should be ready to highlight how we’ve worked across teams—think marketing, engineering, and design. Prepare to discuss scenarios where you had to mediate differing opinions and how you got everyone on board with a shared vision.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
In a full-time role, we can expect to encounter case study questions during our interviews. Practise solving hypothetical product problems on the spot, such as prioritising features for a new app or improving user engagement metrics. This will show our analytical thinking and decision-making skills.
✨Know Your Metrics
Let’s face it, numbers are our best friends in product management. We should prepare to discuss key performance indicators (KPIs) and how we've used analytics to inform product decisions. Dive into examples where data has driven our strategy for improvements or justified product changes.
